Bloomberg: Same-sex marriage yes votes will have my support

New York City Mayor Bloomberg dangled a big carrot in front of Republican senators Tuesday, promising to support any of them who votes in favor of same-sex marriage legislation the mayor supports.

The billionaire mayor has been a major bankroller of Senate Republicans in the past — he donated $900,000 to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in the fall of 2010.

He declined to say what might happen to senators who vote no, or what he would do if no vote is taken on the bill. Bloomberg said the Senate should take another vote (the bill failed in 2009 by a 38-24 vote) because “I think the public has a right to know where their legislators stand.

Here’s what he said at a press conference with City Council Speaker Christine Quinn:

“The longer the Senate obstructs marriage equality, the heavier the price they will pay, not only in the history books but at the polls. This is not only an issue for LGBT voters, but a growing number of New Yorkers and especially young people.”
“You have to take a long view, and I hope the people I talked to will. And they will have my support when they run for re-election no matter where they stand on any other issue. I think this is the key issue…I can’t agree with any one person on every issue, so you have to pick and choose.”
“I, and I will urge others to do it, that we should support people who vote for the things we need in New York City. The real world is you cannot pick one issue and say it’s all or nothing, but that is not to say you can’t emphasize and increase your support for those who vote on the things you are more important, particularly when you get to something like this I think is critically important to the state and the citizens.”